2006-09-01 01:51:12 · 13 answers · asked by tunachunks199 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Actually, an Australian patent lawyer has done exactly that, about a year ago now. He submitted a description of his "rotary mobilisation device" and got it accepted. What he described was a wheel. He only got the Australian patent - it's an expensive business and he was funding it himself, but he was confident that it could have been sucessful anywhere.
However, he doesn't expect to make a vast fortune, he was doing it to highlight the ridiculous nature of so much patent law.
2006-09-01 04:26:34 · answer #1 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The subject of a patent must be non-obvious to those skilled in the art of [insert field of study] and must be an advance on the prior art in the public domain. If you really want a patent on the wheel, try a country where patents are not meaning full. The fee you pay is just income for some corrupt official.
2006-09-01 09:10:40 · answer #2 · answered by d/dx+d/dy+d/dz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am afraid you cant patent the wheel itself. Any idea in the public domain is instantly void of patent rights. e.g. If I invented a cure for cancer went on TV and explained it to everyone before patenting it. I would have lost the patent rights. Although if you had a new revolutionary use for a wheel say for arguments sake rolling a wheel on your forehead cured you of a headache. You could patent the prosses. (provided the patent office deemed it original enough and you hadn't told everyone).
2006-09-01 09:06:00 · answer #3 · answered by Robert S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While you were asking this question, I filed a patent myself. Ha ha, I own the wheel. I'm going to be rich. I'm going to buy an island and fill it with monkeys.
2006-09-01 09:46:52 · answer #4 · answered by Oracle Of Delphi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES - it is patented.
According to the patent office the patent is owned by a Mister S.T. Oneageman!
2006-09-01 09:07:20 · answer #5 · answered by Trevor h 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You wouldnt be able to patent it as 1, you didnt invent it and 2, its kind of a generic design adn is in no way destictive.
2006-09-01 17:36:18 · answer #6 · answered by graeme b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can patent a wheel any more than you can a sharp stick
2006-09-01 08:54:24 · answer #7 · answered by kevin d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it's not. Go ahead and try it. You'll spend alot of money and then get laughed out of the patent office.
Go put a trademark on curse words...that way, every time someone says or writes one, you'll be entitled to royalties!
2006-09-01 08:53:54 · answer #8 · answered by a kinder, gentler me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was a Superman comic about this, a long time ago. (Well, similar.) The Prankster tried to copyright the alphabet, so he could sue the Daily Planet and demand that they pay him royalties for the use of his 'invention' every time they published a paper! They threw his case out of court. I suspect that would happen to you as well.
Her's a better idea: try to register your name and face and fingerprints as trademarks, and then sell them to someone for a lot of cash so that you can live on it, but you will be able (have to!) wear a mask and gloves in public and not tell anybody your name! The government will not even be able to prosecute you, because they cannot compell you to break the law (trademark violation) in order to participate in the trial!
2006-09-01 09:27:58 · answer #9 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's unlikely to be patented as:
a) when it was invented patents didn't exist
b) you have to invent it yourself to patent it, so no-one could do it when patents did exist.
So no, you can't patent it either.
2006-09-01 08:52:51 · answer #10 · answered by Steve-Bob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋